Kevin Ware Has Horrific Injury Yet Inspires His Team To Win By Linda Iwamoto

By Author: eTicket Central
Total Articles: 18
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In the worst of times, our humanity can shine through. Such is what happened on Eastern Sunday at the Lucas Oil Stadium. The Louisville Cardinals were battling the Duke Blue Devils for the NCAA college basketball championship. Louisville has been the best team in the sport the past two months, winning 17 of 18 with the only loss coming in five overtimes to Notre Dame in mid-February. The Cardinals have won their four NCAA tournament games in the toughest region by an average of nearly 22 points.

It was during this game that the “worst of times” happened to the Louisville Cardinals, specifically Kevin Ware. Louisville was leading Duke 21-20 with just 6:33 left in the first half of Sunday’s final Elite Eight game. Kevin Ware of Louisville leaped to defend Tyler Thornton’s 3-pointer, but when he landed on his right foot, his leg crumpled beneath him and the bone snapped. Ware screamed in agony, the bone grotesquely protruded from his leg. It happened directly in front of his team’s bench, and they were so horrified, every single teammate in the bench recoiled in horror. Some even appeared to vomit. ...
... His four team mates on the court realized what had happened, saw Ware’s gruesome broken leg, and were overcome with grief. They crumbled to the floor, covered their faces and openly cried in anguish. They were unable to look at Ware. They held each other for support. Their intense grief was almost tangible. Even their head coach, Rick Pitino, was in tears.

Yet, in the midst of his extreme agony, Ware’s thoughts were for his team. He did not want his injury to cause them to lose the championship that they had fought so hard and long for. Just before he was carried from the floor, Ware called his teammates over to him. He said to them, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be OK. You guys go win this thing,” (this, according to CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.) It was a touching and emotional gesture that inspired his teammates.

Of course it was very difficult for Louisville to focus on the game after Ware’s accident, but his brave words spurred them on. They dug deep into souls and found toughness and fortitude. They would not lose this game! They would win it for Ware!

And they did. The Cardinals won the game over Duke, 35-32. The entire team was incredibly jubilant. They crowded in front of the camera and prominently displaying Ware’s Number 5 jersey.